Our Lesson on Mary Magdalene comes from Matthew 27:56, 61; 28:1, Mark 15:40, 47; 16:1-19; Luke 8:2; 24:10; John 19:25; 20:1-18 of our main text Women of the Bible by Jean E Syswerda. Here are some important points. These points may not directly answer the questions on pages 211-212.
Mary Magdelene
Her name means “Bitterness”
Ten points of information:
1. Mistakenly characterized as a prostitute.
2. She was possessed by seven demons. She probably suffered from a serious mental or physical illness from which Jesus delivered her.
3. She went to the tomb where Jesus was buried and saw that the stone had been rolled away, at the entrance. She explained to the two angels that she saw that the body of her Lord had been taken away and that she did not know where to find him. She was the first to see the Resurrected Jesus Christ.
4. She cried out in Aramaic “Rabboni” (which means teacher) when she recognized who Jesus was.
5. She was one of several women who took the time out to play a role in the ministry of Jesus. She traveled with Jesus and the twelve disciples. She cared for their needs during the time that they were not earning a living.
6. The women that cared for Jesus and his disciples used their own financial resources to support Jesus and his disciples. They either had no children or their children were grown.
7. They spent their time purchasing food; preparing it; and serving it; while Jesus was teaching and healing.
8. Perhaps they found homes for Jesus and his disciples to stay in during their travels.
9. When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.
10. She announced to the disciples that she had seen the Lord. She informed them that he told her to tell them that he was ascending to his Father and our Father, to his God and our God.
Scriptures:
Matthew 27:56 – Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
Matthew 27:61 – Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
Matthew 28:1 – After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
Mark 15:40 – Some women were watching from a distance, Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome.
Mark 15:47 – Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
Mark 16:1 – When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.
Luke 8:2 – And also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;
Luke 24:10 – It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
John 19:25 – Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
John 20:1 – 18 – Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. (2) So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” (3) So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. (4) Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. (5) He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. (6) Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, (7) as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. (8) Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (9) (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) (10) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. (11) Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb (12) and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. (13) They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” (14) At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. (15) He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” (16) Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). (17) Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my Brothers and tell them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” (18) Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news. “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
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